Caging means for gyroscopes



Junefi, 1944. y. R. KIMBALL 2,350,769

I CAGING MEANS FOR GYROSCOPES am am INVENTOR. l/ 1?. /f/M6ALL.

M 147; ORNEY June 6,19%, 'v A'LL 2,350,769

CAGING MEANS FOR GYROSCOPES 1 Filed April 8, 1942 I V 5 Sheets-Sheet 2'mvmoxi 1 fi. KnwaALL.

ATYDRNFK .F-une 6, 1944.

V. R. KIMBALL GAGING MEANS FOR GYROSCOPES Filed April 8, 1942 5Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. V. 1 KIMBALL.

June 6, 1944. I v R KlMBALL 2,350,769

CAGING MEANS FOR GYROSCOPES Filed April 8, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. V. R. K/MBALL B Y ATTORNEY June 6, 1944, v R K1 1 2,350,769

' CAGING MEANS FOR GYROSCOPES Filqd April 8, 1942 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. V R. A 0145A L z.

- Patented June 6, 1944 CAGING MEANS FOR GY ROSCOPES Vernon It. Kimball,Maywood, N. J., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, Bendix, N. J.,a

corporation of Delaware Application April 8, 1942, Serial No. 438,200

.18 .Claims.

This invention relates to gyroscopic devices and more particularly tonovel apparatus for caging and centralizing such devices.

The disadvantages encountered with the use of known apparatus providedfor this purpose have been that for any great deviation from normal ofeither the gyro rotor spin axis or the rotor mounting gimbal, caging wasimpossible because the operating mechanism thereof was carried by-somepart of the housing enclosing the gyroscope and the pilot had to performsome intermediate step to return either the rotor or its mounting gimbalinto the operating sphere of the caging apparatus.

The present invention contemplates the provisison of a novel caging andcentralizing apparatus which accomplishes its purpose and function atall times notwithstanding the position of the rotor or its mountinggimbal.

An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a novelcaging, centralizing and locking apparatus for gyroscopic devices, suchas, artificial horizons, gyro verticals, etc.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel caging apparatusfor gyroscopic devices which operates in sequence or a timed cycle tofirst cage and centralize the rotor mounting means and thereafter tocage and centralize the gyro rotor.

"Another object of the invention is to provide a gyroscopic horizon, orthe like, with novel caging means which are adapted to cage andcentralize the gyroscope about one axis and, subsequently, to cage andcentralize the gyroscope about another axis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel caging andcentralizing apparatus for gyroscopic devices which is operable at alltimes to cage and centralize the gyroscope whether it be running or atrest.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following detailed description when the sameis read in connection with the accompanying drawings. It is to beexpressly understood, however, that the drawings are for pur-, poses ofillustration only and are not intended as a definition of the limits ofthe invention.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts,throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of one form of gyroscopic deviceprovided with the novel 4 -means of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section view taken substantially along line2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view in section taken substantially along line 3-3 ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a view in section taken substantially along line 5-5 ofFigure 2; and,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view illustrating a portion of the novelcaging mechanism.

The novel apparatus of the present invention is illustrated as appliedto an artificial horizon gyro having a rotor, which maybe driven eitherpneumatically or electrically, mounted within a casing Hi for spinningabout a normally vertical axis. The rotor casing is mounted foroscillation about a horizontal axis within a gimbal mounting ring H byway of suitable trunnions supported in bearings l2 and is (Fig. 2)carried by gimbal H. in turn, is mounted for oscillation about a secondhorizontal axis by way of outer trunnions it and i5 rotatably mountedwithin bearings l6 and I! supported within a mechanism casing Id. Thegyro rotor is thus provided with three degrees of freedom and theinstrument, when mounted on a craft, has its outer gimbal trunnion i4,i5 arranged parallel to the longitudinal craft axis and the innertrunnions parallel with the crafts transverse axis.

Mechanism casing I8 is normally enclosed within an instrument housing(not shown) for mounting on the crafts instrument panel. The

front end of the casing is sealed air-tight by way of a cover glass l9,through which may be observed a mask 20, carried for movement with theouter gimbal trunnions, and a horizon bar 2i, mounted for up and downmovement relative to the mask in accordance with rotor oscillation aboutthe inner trunnions. The foregoing elements are well known to the artand, therefore, have been described only generally, since, ofthemselves, they constitute no part of the present invention.

Coming now to the novel caging and centralizing apparatus of the presentinvention, reference is made to Figures 2 and 5, wherein are shown,mounted about bearing [1, a pair of concentrically arranged arms 22a and23a formed integrally with two sectors 22 and 23 having toothedperipheries 24 and 25, respectively. These arms are provided withrecesses 26 and 21, for a purpose to presently appear andare normallyseparated substantially apart, asshown in Figs. 2 and 5, arm 22a of Thegimbal,

sector arm 22, only, being visible in the latter figure.

Referring now in Figure 3, sectors 22 and 23 engage at their outertoothed peripheries 24 and 25 with two concentrically mounted andoppositely rotatable gears 28 and 29. Inner gear 28, engaging toothedportion 24 of sector 22, is carried by a hollow shaft 30 journalled atits outer periphery within a bearing 3| carried by casing l8. The outerend of shaft 30 has secured thereto a gear 32 mounted concentricallywith an outer gear 33 secured to a shaft 34 about whichis sleeved shaft30. The inner end of shaft 34 carries the outer gear 29 which engagestoothed portion 25 of sector 23.

As more clearly illustrated in Figures 2. and 4, outer gear 33 isengaged by a gear 35 while, it, in turn, is in mesh with and driven by afurther and relatively thinner gear 36. Gear 36 does not engage gear 33but meshes only with inner gear 32 and is driven by an idler gear 31meshving with a gear 38, which is secured to and rotatable with a cageshaft 39 operable by means of a suitable cage knob 46 arranged at theface of the instrument (Fig. 1).

Mounted upon outer gear 33, furthermore, is a trip finger 4|, whichafter a predetermined amount of rotation of gear 33 engages and lifts alever arm 42 secured to a shaft 43 carried by casing 8. A suitablespring 44 anchored at one end to casing |8 normally urges lever arm 42to the position shown in Figure 4.

At the interior of casing I8, shaft 43 has secured thereto a latch arm45 normally holding a finger 46 in the position shown inFigure 5.

Finger 46 is formed integrally with a large sector element 41, which,like arm sectors 22 and 23, is pivotally mounted about bearing l1.Adjacent finger 46, furthermore, sector 41 is provided with an abutment48 which is resiliently held against the base of arm 22a of sector 22,

The outer periphery of sector 41, is toothed at 49, as shown in Figure5, to engage agear 56 (Fig. 6) mounted at the base of casing i8 forreasons to presently appear. A large coil spring is anchored to the topof sector 41, as at 52,

and at its free end to the interior of casing l6 by means of a plate 53whereby upon release of finger 46 by latch arm 45, spring 5| swingssector 41 downwardly and to the left as viewed in Figure 5.

The toothed portion 49 of sector 41 engages and rotates the gear 50which, through gears 54 and 55 engages with a gear 56, as more clearlyshown in Figure 6. Gear 56, on the other hand, engages with twooppositely movable toothed rack sectors 51 and 58 carrying at theirouter ends fingers or arms 59, 66, respectively. In their normal and'inoperative position these racks are in the position shown in Figure 3,however, upon rotation of gear 56, the racks move in opposite directionswithin suitable guide supports 6| and 62, fastened to the base of casingl8, until such time as fingers or arms 59 and 60 meet in a substantiallcommon plane at the central axis of gear 56.

Gimbal ring I l is provided, for movement therewith, about its outertrunnions I4 and I5, with plates or limit stop members 63 and 64 whosefacing ends are tapered slightly so that upon precession of rotor casingIn about the iimertrunnion axis, that is, about an axis perpendicular tothe axis of trunnions l4, and I5, due to a precessing force applied atthe outer trunnions, the rotor casing spindle 65, housing the rotor spinaxle,

engages either one of limit stops 63 or 64, thereby end, is providedwitha spindle 61 encasing the rotor spin axle and is so arranged that,notwithstanding its position within substantially 180 about the innertrunnions, either of fingers or arms 59 or '66 may engage spindle 61 andreturn it to its normally vertical position.

When the pilot desires to centralize and lock the gyro, just prior toany maneuver or for some other reason, he merely grasps knob 40, whichis secured to cage shaft 39 by way of a pin 68, and

to a stud member 13, fastened to the shaft at its other end. Thisspring, therefore, initates rotation of cage shaft 39 and its ear 38.

As more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 4, gear- 38 rotates idler 31which, in turn, rotates gear 36, which, beingin engagement with gear 32,rotates the latter in one direction. Gear 36 also engages thicker gear35 to rotate it in the same direction. Gear 33 is rotated from gear 35and its direction, as will appear, is opposite to the rotation of gear32 engaged by gear 36.

In Figure 3, it is seen that oppositely rotating gears 32, 33 rotategears 28 and 29 in opposite directions which, in turn, rotate armsectors 22 and 23 in opposite directions thereby moving arms 22a and 23atoward each other in the nature of a scissor action. Notwithstanding theangular amount that gimbal I may have oscillated about trimnions I4, I5, either one of arms 22a or 23a will engage pin 66 at their recesses 26or 21.

As is well known in the operation of gyroscopes, the moment that eitherarm 22a or 23a engages pin 66, the gyro rotor is caused to precess aboutthe inner trunnions and, in doing so, provides a reactive torque on theengaging arm to oppose the rotation of cage shaft 39 under the action ofspring 12. The rotor casing l6 movesangularly about the inner trunnionsuntil spindle 65 engages limit stop 63 or 64 and, at the moment ofengagement, the reactive force on the engaging arm is dissipated andmovement of arms 22a and 23a continues until pin 66 and thus gimbal IIare returned to the normally horizontal position shown in Figure 3.Gimbal H is now centered, caged and locked.

With the locking of gimbal gear 33 (Fig. 4) has rotated sufficiently tocause trip pin 4| to engage and move lever arm 42 in a clockwisedirection against the action of spring 44. Movement of lever arm 42moves latch arm 45 to the left (Fig. 5) until finger 46 of sector 41. isdisengaged. Sector 41 now is placed under the full action of the forceof spring 5| and is, therefore, swung to the left as viewed in Figure 5.The toothed portion 49 of sector 41 rotates gears 50, 54, 55 and 56.Upon rotating, gear 56 moves rack sectors 51 and 58 in oppositedirections and wherever spindle 61 may be, either of fingers or arms 59or 66 will engage the spindle and, upon continued movement, return it toits normally vertical position. At this point the gyro is completelycaged and locked and preserved from any possible damage during violentcraft maneuvers.

To uncage the gyro the reverse of the above procedure takes place. Knob40 (Fig. 1) is turned in a counterclockwise direction and pushedinwardly when finger 69 is opposite recess I0. By-

thus turning the knob the cage shaft is rotated in an opposite directionto again torsionally load spring I2 and at the same time reverse therotation of the previously described gear train. With the reverserotation of gears 32 and 33 (Fig. 4) pin 4| moves away from lever arm 42which, by virtue of spring 44, is returned to its normal position and,likewise, moves latch arm 45 to the position of Figure 5.

Upon continued rotation of gears 32 and 33, arms 22a and 230 are movedoutwardly and away from each other, disengaging pin 66 and therebyunlocking gimbal l l. During outward movement of arm 22a, abutment 48carried by sector 41 has been engaged with the base of the arm so thatsector 41 is returned in a counter-clockwise direction (Fig. to reverserotation of gears 50, 54, 55, and 55, as well as move racks 51, 58 out-I wardly, and simultaneously load coil spring 5|.

Fingers 59 and Gilthus release spindle 61 and unlock the gyro about itsinner trunnions substantially simultaneously "with the release of pin 66by arms 22a and 23a. Arm Ha, by moving abutment 48, urges finger 46downwardly until it is engaged and locked by latch arm 45'the'rebyplacing the whole apparatus in condition for a subsequent cagingoperation.

In view of the foregoing it is believed to be apparent to those skilledin the art of caging gyroscopic devices that a new and novel apparatushas been provided for caging and centralizing artificial horizons, gyroverticals, or the like, wherein the caging operation is performed-insequence or a timed cycle consisting of two major steps, one being thecentralizing and locking of the gyro rotor mounting means and the otherbeing the centralizing and locking of the gyro rotor about its secondaxis of oscillation, the latter step being effected only after the firststep has been completed.

' Although but one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it is to be expressly understood that the inventionis not limited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention as the same will now be understood ,including a gimbal formount ng said rotor for freedom about two mutually perpendicular axesother than said spin axis, of a member carried by and projecting fromsaid gimbal. a secon member projecting from said rotor casing. aplurality of arms pivoted about said first member, a plurality of armsmounted to enga e said second member, and means for actuat ng saidfirst-named arms to engage said first member and subsequently actuatingsaid second- ,named arms to engage said second member. 2. A caging andcentralizing device for gyronecting said second-named arms with saidfirstnamed arms for sequential operation, and means for actuating saidfirst-named arms to engage said first member and thereafter actuatingsaid second-named arms to engage said second member.

3. A caging device for artificial horizons comprising the combinationwith a gyro rotor provided with a casing and having normally verticalspin axis and supporting means including a gimbal for mounting saidrotor for freedom about two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes, of apin carried by and projecting from said gimbal, a second pin projectingfrom said rotor casing,

a plurality of arms pivotally mounted about said first pin. a'pluralityof arms mounted about said second pin, and actuating means for turningsaid first-named arms to engage said first pin and subsequentlyoperating said second-named arms to engage said second pin. i

4. A caging device for artificial horizons compr sing the combinationwith a gyro rotor provided with a casing and having normally verticalspin axis and supporting means including a gimbal for mounting saidrotor for freedom about two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes, of apin projecting from said gimbal, a second pin projecting from said rotorcasing, a plurality of arms pivoted about said first pin, a plurality ofarms mounted about said second pin, means interconnecting saidsecond-named arms with said first-named arms for sequential operation,and means for actuating said first-named arms to engage said first pinand thereafter actuating said second-named arms to engage said secondpin.

5. A caging device for artificial horizons comprising the combinationwith a gyro rotor provided with a casing and having normally verticalspin axis and supporting means including a gimbal for mounting saidrotor for freedom about two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes, of amember carried by said gimbal and projecting therefrom, a second memberprojecting from said rotor casing, a plurality of arms pivoted aboutsaid first member, a plurality of arms mounted about said second member,means connecting said second-named arms with said first-named arms forsequential operation, and means for actuating said first-named arms toengage said first member and cage said gimbal and thereafter operatingsaid second-named arms to engage said second member and cage said gyrorotor.

6. A caging and centralizing device for gyroscopic devices comprisingthe ombination with a gyro rotor provided with a casing and adapted forspinning about one axis and support ng means including a gimbal formounting said rotor for freedom about two mutually perpendicular axesother than said spin axis, of a pin projecting from said gimbal, asecond pin projecting from said rotor casing, a plurality of armspivoted about said first pin, a plurality of arms mounted about saidsecond pin, means connecting said second-named arms with saidfirst-named arms for sequential operation, and means for actuating,iecting from said rotor casing,'a plurality of engaging members mountedabout said pin, means connecting said caging means and said engagingmembers fOr sequential operation, and means for operating said cagingmeans to cage said gimbal and for simultaneously operating saidconnecting means to thereafter actuate said engaging members to engagesaid pin.

8. A caging device for artificial horizons comprising the combinationwith a gyro rotor provided with a rotor casing and having normallyvertical spin axis and means including a gimbal for mounting said rotorfor freedom about two mutually perpendicular axes, of means for cagingsaid gimbal, a pin projecting from said rotor casing, a plurality ofengaging members mounted about said pin, means connecting said memberswith said caging means including a latching device holding said membersin an inoperative position during the initial operation of said cagingmeans, and means for actuating said caging means i to cage said gimbaland thereafter to release said latching device to actuate said membersto engage said pin.

9. A caging device for artificial horizons comprising the combinationwith a gyro rotor provided with a rotor casing and having normallyvertical spin axis and means including a gimbalfor mounting said rotorfor freedom about two mutually perpendicular axes, of means for cagingsaid gimbal, a pin projecting from saidrotor casing, a pair ofoppositively movable engaging members mounted about said pin, meanscon-.

necting said engaging members with said caging means and comprising alatching device for holding said members against movement during theinitial operation of said caging means, and means operative foractuating said caging means to cage said gimbal and thereafter forreleasing said latching device to operate said members to engage saidpin.

10. A caging device for artificial horizons comprising the combinationwith a gyro rotor provided with a rotor casing and having normallyvertical spin axis and means including a gimbal for mounting said rotorfor freedom about two mutually perpendicular axes, of means for cagingsaid gimbal, a pin projecting from said rotor casing, a pair ofoppositively movable engaging members mounted about said pin, meansconnecting said members with said caging means and including a latchingdevice for holding said mem- -bers against movement during the initialoperanormally vertical spin axis and supporting means including a gimbalfor mounting said rotor for freedom about two mutually perpendicularaxes, of a pin carried by and projecting from said gimbal, a pluralityof arms pivoted about said pin, means for caging and centralizing saidrotor, means connecting said caging means and said arms and including alatch device for maintaining said rotor caging means inoperative duringthe initial operation of said arms, said latching device comprising aresiliently constrained member for operating said caging means and apivoted lever for holding said constrained member in a. predeterminedand inoperative position, and means for turning said arms to engage saidpin and thereafter for turning said lever to release said constrainedmember to operate said rotor caging means.

12. A caging and centralizing device for gyroscopic devices comprisingthe combination with v a gyro rotor adapted'for spinning about one axisand means including a gimbal for mounting said rotor for freedom abouttwo mutually perpendicular axes other than said spin axis, of means forcagingsaid gimbal, means for easing said rotor, means connecting saidlast-named'caging means to said first-named caging means for se- 13. Acaging and centralizing device for artificial horizons comprising thecombination with a gyro rotor having normally vertical spin axis andsupporting means including a gimbal for mounting said rotor for freedomabout two mutually perpendicular horizontal axes other than said spinaxis, of caging means for said gimbal, other caging means for saidrotor, means connecting said gimbal caging means and said rotor cagingmeans for sequential operation, and means for operating said gimbalcaging means and thereafter for operating said rotor caging means.

14. A caging and centralizing device for artificial horizons comprisingthe combination with a gyro rotor having normally vertical spin axis andmeans including agimbal for mounting said rotor for freedom about twomutually perpendicular horizontal axes, caging means for said gimbal,other caging means for said rotor, means connecting said rotor cagingmeans to said firstnamed caging means and including a latching mechanismholding said rotor caging means in an inoperative position during theinitial operation of said first-named caging means, and means foractuating said first-named caging means and thereafter to release saidlatching mechanism to actuate said rotor caging means.

15. A caging and centralizing device for artificial horizons comprisingthe combination with a gyro rotor having normally vertical spin axis andmeans including a gimbal ring for mounting said rotor for freedom abouttwo mutually perpendicular horizontal axes, caging means for said gimbalring, caging means for said rotor, means connecting said rotor cagingmeans to said firstnamed caging means and including a latching deviceholding said rotor caging means in an inoperative position during theinitial operation of said first-named caging means, said latching devicecomprising a resiliently constrained member for operating said rotorcagingmeans and a pivoted lever for holding said constrained member in apredetermined and inoperative position, and means for actuating saidfirst-named caging means and thereafter for turning said lever torelease said constrained member and actuate said rotor caging means.

16. In a caging and centralizing device for universally mountedgyroscopes, the combination with thegyroscope, of means for caging andlocking said gyroscope about one axis thereof, means for caging andlocking said gyroscope about a second axis thereof at right angles tosaid first axis, and means for sequentially operating said first andsecond means.

17. In a gyro-vertical, an outer casing there for, a gyroscopeuniversally mounted in said casing on two mutually perpendicularhorizontal axes with the spin axis vertical, and means for sequentiallycasin and locking said gyroscope first about one of said horizontal axesand then about a gyro rotor adapted for spinning about one axis andmeans including a gimbal for mounting said rotor for freedom about twomutually perpendicular axes other than said spin axis, of means forcaging and locking said rotor about one of said two mutually.perpendicular axes, means for cagin'g and locking said rotor about theother of saidtwo mutually perpendicular axes, and means for sequentiallyoperating said first and second means. a

' VERNON R. KIMBALL.

the other, whereby said gyroscope becomes locked '7

